Meryl Streep to Reteam with Director David Frankel for GREAT HOPE SPRINGS

Last year, we reported that Meryl Streep was circling Great Hope Springs with Mike Nicholas at the helm. The story “follows a middle-aged couple who after thirty years of marriage attend an intense counseling weekend to examine the intimacy issues that are threatening their marriage.” Today, we’ve received a press release announcing that Streep is in final negotiations to take the role, but that it won’t be with Nichols in the director’s chair. Instead, the film is now being helmed by David Frankel who directed Streep in The Devil Wears Prada.

The press release makes no mention of James Gandolfini or Philip Seymour Hoffman, who were rumored to play Streep’s husband and therapist, respectively. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Here’s the press release:

MERYL STREEP IN FINAL NEGOTIATIONS TO STAR IN

‘GREAT HOPE SPRINGS’ WITH DAVID FRANKEL SET TO DIRECT

FOR MANDATE PICTURES

ESCAPE ARTISTS’ TODD BLACK AND FILM 360’s GUYMON CASADY

TO PRODUCE THE COMEDY WRITTEN BY VANESSA TAYLOR

Los Angeles, CA (February 8, 2011) – Mandate Pictures announced today that Meryl Streep is in final negotiations to star in GREAT HOPE SPRINGS, a comedy to be directed by David Frankel (MARLEY & ME, THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA). The screenplay by Vanessa Taylor and featured on the prestigious Black List, follows a middle-aged couple who after thirty years of marriage attend an intense counseling weekend to examine the intimacy issues that are threatening their marriage.

Guymon Casady of Film 360, the feature film production entity of Management 360, and Todd Black for his Escape Artists banner will produce. Mandate president Nathan Kahane, Escape Artists’ Jason Blumenthal and Steve Tisch will executive produce. Mandate’s Lawrence Grey will co-produce. Escape Artists’ Chris Coggins and Lance Johnson will serve as associate producers. Mandate Pictures has set an August 2011 start date for production on the movie. Film 360 discovered the project, brought in Escape Artists as their partner, and then together approached Mandate for the financing. Lionsgate will be handling international sales.

GREAT HOPE SPRINGS reunites Streep and Frankel who have previously worked together on the box office hit THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA. Frankel directed ‘PRADA’ as well as the worldwide box office success MARLEY & ME. Frankel earned the Oscar for Best Live Action Short Film in 1996 for his short film DEAR DIARY. He won an Emmy for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series for the pilot episode of “Entourage” (2004), as well as an Emmy for his episodes of HBO’s “Band of Brothers.” His next film THE BIG YEAR will be released by Fox 2000 in 2011.

Meryl Streep is a multifaceted actress who has worked in theatre, television and film and is widely regarded as one of the most talented and respected actors. Streep has received 16 Academy Award nominations, winning two, and 25 Golden Globe nominations, winning seven, more nominations than any other actor in the history of either award. Her work has also earned her two Emmy Awards, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, a Cannes Film Festival award, four New York Film Critics Circle Awards, five Grammy Award nominations, a BAFTA award, an Australian Film Institute Award and a Tony Award nomination, amongst others. She was awarded the American Film Institute’s Lifetime Achievement Award in2004. Streep’s most recent film releases include MAMMA MIA!, DOUBT, JULIE & JULIA, FANTASTIC MR. FOX and IT’S COMPLICATED. Streep will next be seen in THE IRON LADY, a film inspired by the events of Margaret Thatcher’s life.

Meryl Streep is represented by CAA, who was integral in putting this project together at Mandate, and attorney Michael Gendler of Gendler & Kelly, APC. David Frankel is represented by WME, Anonymous Content and attorney William P. Jacobson of Jacobson, Russell, Saltz & Fingerman. Vanessa Taylor is represented by UTA, Management 360 and Ziffren Law. Dan Freedman, Mandate’s SVP of Business Affairs, negotiated the deals for the company.

COLLIDER participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means COLLIDER gets paid commissions on purchases made through our links to retailer sites. Our editorial content is not influenced by any commissions we receive.